synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsi-nər-jē 

plural synergies

1

: synergism

broadly : combined action or operation

2

: a mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements (such as resources or efforts)

Did you know?

An old saying, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", expresses the basic meaning of synergy. The word is sometimes used in a purely physical sense, especially when talking about drugs; sometimes a "cocktail" of drugs may be more effective than the sum of the effectiveness of each of the separate drugs. But the word is best known in the world of business. The notion that, when the right two companies merge, they'll produce a profitable synergy seemed exciting in the 1990s, when synergy became a trendy buzzword (even though it's actually been around since the 17th century). The idea of synergy was one factor in what became a "merger mania;" unfortunately, business synergy often turned out to be harder to achieve than to imagine.

Examples of synergy in a Sentence

A synergy has developed among the different groups working on this project.

two companies that have found synergy

Recent Examples on the Web

As ever with deals of this ilk, thoughts have turned to synergies and cost savings, which Zucker and Banijay boss Marco Bassetti said will total €50M ($59M) within 12 months of the deal closing this fall. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026

As early as 1957, Walt Disney’s synergy map showed how films feed television, music, merchandise, and parks — each reinforcing the other. —Lin Cherry, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026

Buying or renewing Tier 2 or Tier 3 sports — including packages of MLB and NHL regular season games —is probably not the best use of capital for a company that’s looking for $6 billion in synergies and has promised to make 30 theatrical films. —Alex Sherman, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026

On a call with analysts on Monday, Ellison acknowledged that the combined company will be saddled with a staggering $79 billion in debt but was optimistic that $6 billion in cost savings would be achieved thanks to synergies. —Brent Lang, Variety, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin synergia, from Greek synergos working together

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

synergy

noun

syn·​er·​gy ˈsin-ər-jē 

plural synergies

: synergism